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History
The Pipestone Lamb and Wool Program started in 1972 as a pilot
program called the “Pipestone Sheep Project” it was jointly funded
by the National Sheep Industry Development Board (SID) and the
Minnesota Department of Education. The basic purpose for starting
the Pipestone Sheep Project was to boost the level of sheep
management and production in the Pipestone area by bringing modern,
profitable management technology to member sheep producers and help
them properly implement these techniques on their individual farms.
The Pipestone Sheep Project worked with member sheep producers in a
hundred mile radius of Pipestone through individual instruction,
group instruction, class sessions and 24-hour phone consultation.
Over the years this unique educational concept has been very
effective and has elevated the management level of sheep operations
in the Pipestone area to production levels unparalleled anywhere in
the world. When the program started in 1972 there were about 52,000
breeding ewes in the area served by the program and the average
lambing percentage was just under 110%. Today the same area has
78,000 breeding ewes with an average lambing percentage marketed of
about 170%.
This success brought the Lamb and Wool Program a national reputation
for sheep management knowledge, education, production and marketing.
Because of this reputation and national producer demand, the program
branched out to help producers nationwide through it’s Home Study
Course on Sheep Management and it’s annual shortcourses. Enrollment
in all programs over the past 30 years totals 11,305 sheep producers
from all 50 states and 10 foreign countries.
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